What's Not Hot Anymore?

[Glenn]

What lures that once had a prominent place on the pro trail have faded to near obscurity?  We recently asked several top elite pros that question.  Find out what they said here: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/hot-baits.html

[frogtog]

I wonder why that is, A couple of years ago I use to run up the river and put on a Bubble gum sinko and weigh in 20 pounds at every tournament. Now I can't beg a bit on one. Why? A lot of guys will say that they have seen the bait to much. The only ones that have seen the bait is the ones I catch. His friend must have been with him and told the rest of them that a pink thing drug Mama off. Is it the bait or is it me? Have I lost confidence it the bait? Lets have some input. :-/

[roadwarrior]

Very interesting...

My best personal observation would be the original Floating Rapala.

Now, I know this lure still produces bites, but nothing like the frenzy

back in the '60s when it first became available domestically. At one

time these lures were rented by the hour! How times have changed.

On the other hand...Catt would be my example of how things remain

the same. As far as I know, he's still fishing the same worm he was

fishing 25 years ago. As I recall, his "average" tournament production

has been 27 lbs. Not too shabby, huh?

8-)

[Tuckman]

Terry Scroggins is one of my favorite fisherman but he must of forgot that Luke Clausen came into his home state of Florida and handed him his arse in the 2006 classic on a 6" worm.

The buzzbait and spinnerbait were key in high finishes all year long in the FLW. Scott Canterbury rode a buzzbait right into the 2009 FLW Cup. I also think 99% of bass fisherman(including pros) have a spinnerbait tied on somewere in thier boat at any given time.

I agree with KVD on the pork frogs though.

[5bass]

I think the Chatterbait qualifies here. One of the FLW guys (Thrift maybe) won a couple tournaments with it and it was the HOTTEST THING GOING.....now you don't hear much about it when the winners 'reveal' their baits. But like everything else, it has it's time and place.

[Bass Dude]

I used their list as WHAT to use---if no-one is using them anymore, isn't that a reason TO use them!!

I'll die with a spinnerbait tied on!!!  

[Mottfia]

  Honestly I don't pay much attention to what THEY don't use much anymore. On the local level there are great anglers that know that they can catch fish with a specific lure or style no matter what the pros are scoring on. And they do consistently! It has alot to do with their confidence.

But I'm sure the older guys can go into better detail about lures that have faded anmd one's that still produce

Mottfia

[senile1]

Interesting stuff . . . . .

I've seen the same history for the Rapala Floater that RW mentioned.  Some lures fade into obscurity for some, while others are still using them.  I've heard KVD mention on a few occasions over the last couple of years that he loves spinnerbaits.  I don't think that opinion has changed a great deal since he first hit the pro trail.  I have to admit that I can't remember the last tournament that he won using a spinnerbait, however.

[farmpond1]

Very interesting...

My best personal observation would be the original Floating Rapala.

Now, I know this lure still produces bites, but nothing like the frenzy

back in the '60s when it first became available domestically. At one

time these lures were rented by the hour! How times have changed.

I could be wrong on this but when the floating Rapala came out, it was one of the very few really natural minnow baits on the market.  It's not that they don't still work, it's just that there are tons of other worthy lures to choose from.  So the "new kid on the block" ain't so new anymore and he's got a lot of competition.  And while some fisherman enjoy nostalgia, the vast majority want the next hottest thing.

I rarely hear anyone say they fish with a jitterbug or hulapopper-though there are still tons of them floating around (pun intended).

[fatbass]

It seems anymore that a combination of baits is what it takes to get the job done in a tournament.

Also, they advertise the heck out of a bait that has a part in a tournament win or a top 5 place. Like a chatterbait.  The real money has been made on a Jitterbug and the market is full of em: I got 3, half dozen original Rapalas, 3-4 SPRO frogs etc, etc.  

[roadwarrior]

It seems anymore that a combination of baits is what it takes to get the job done in a tournament.

I would bet most local tournaments are won with a Senko.

8-)

[SudoomFisher]

Interesting stuff . . . . .

I've seen the same history for the Rapala Floater that RW mentioned. Some lures fade into obscurity for some, while others are still using them. I've heard KVD mention on a few occasions over the last couple of years that he loves spinnerbaits. I don't think that opinion has changed a great deal since he first hit the pro trail. I have to admit that I can't remember the last tournament that he won using a spinnerbait, however.

I think he won the last elite series tournament in NY last year on a spinnerbait.

[Ballpark Frank]

Interesting stuff . . . . .

I've seen the same history for the Rapala Floater that RW mentioned. Some lures fade into obscurity for some, while others are still using them. I've heard KVD mention on a few occasions over the last couple of years that he loves spinnerbaits. I don't think that opinion has changed a great deal since he first hit the pro trail. I have to admit that I can't remember the last tournament that he won using a spinnerbait, however.

I think he won the last elite series tournament in NY last year on a spinnerbait.

He didn't win in NY last year(Lake Oneida or Lake Erie), he did win the Angler of the Year. I am sure spinnerbaits played a part in his consistency during the year, but the crank was his go to bait.

[SudoomFisher]

Yea my mistake, I mixed up winning Oneida with winning AOY

[Matt Fly]

RW touched upon it.

Alot of these name specific baits have been replaced with better design.

  Cordell Hot Spot, its not that a lipless bait isn't used anymore, there are tons of lipless baits in use.    Rattln Vibe, Rattle traps and so on.

There are just better designs out there.

Rapalas original floater has been knocked off by others as well.

    Lurh Jensen Hot Lips is an example of a deep running lure ahead of alot of companies.     Since it release, there are a ton of lures that get down as deep or deeper, its not that a Hot Lips don't catch fish, Paul Elias showed that on Falcon last year.     Theres just more options in other cranks that are out there that get the same results

I still see alot of the listed baits earning or helping earn checks all the time.

      Every bait has its brighter days.      Big worms and a Hot Lips helped Paul Elias break the all time 4 day record on Falcon.

   A swimbait won on Clear Lake in Cali.      At almost every tournament, there are multiple patterns that win.

     This years classic dictated blade baits early for some, then Texas rigs.   Some swam jigs.     Some tried finesse.  

     Seems to me, that on any given day or lake, pros will use what it takes to get bit.    Whether that be old style or a new bait that is a knockoff of an old school lure.